Resilient wheel.



V M. B. FLAHERTY.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Patented May 2, 1916. 2 SHEETSSHEET1 Z Z z a m z 3 a v 7/ m 0/ m Mu 0/ a f w 1, 1, y w J wi/twemo M. B. FLAHERT Y.

RESILIENT WHEEL- 7 APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. 1915. 1,181,586. Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- ans nan ornicn.

MIKE B. FLAHERTY, 0F SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed August 30, 1915. Serial No. 48,047.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, MIKE B. FLAHERTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Robertson, State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Resilient Wheel; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved resilient wheel, for use in connection with automobiles and like vehicles, and an object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this nature, in which improved features of construction are involved.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a plurality of spokes, the inner ends of which are slotted radially, and engage a metal hub rim, between which and a core sleeve (which receives the spindle of the axle) pneumatic tubes are arranged, there being plates keyed to the core sleeve upon each end, which plates upon the outer faces of the wheel having bolt connections, which are arranged in the outer 7 ends of the slots of the spokes, there being resilient spring means between said bolts and the hub rim, thereby acting auxiliary with the pneumatic tubes, to insure resiliency.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, showing parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction of the resilient means. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail view, showing how the pneumatic tubes are inflated. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the outermost plates of both sides of the wheel. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the innermost plates, which is slotted radially. Fig. 6 illustrates collective views of the holding means of the auxiliary spring means, and one of the bolts to hold the outermost plates in position.-

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a wood rim, into sockets 2 of which, the reduced ends 3 of the spokes 4 are received. Arranged on the rim is a channeled annular band 5 (which is secured to the rim. 1 by the screws 6 extending also into the reduced end portions 3 of the spokes) for the reception of the usual solid rubber or other tire 7. The inner ends of the spokes 1 are wedge-shaped, and have radial slots 8, which wedge-shaped portions 9 are arranged to fit together tightly as shown in Fig. 1 clearly. The outer ends of the slots 8 have enlarged portions 10. The inner ends of the wedge-shaped portions 9 of the spokes contact with a metal hub rim 11, to which the plates 12 are riveted as shown at 13. These plates 12 fit the inner narrow ends of the slots 8, to prevent the hub rim 11 from displacement, in other words to cause the annular hub rim to rota te with the inner ends of the spokes. Fastened to the opposite faces of the wedgeshaped parts of the spokes, by means of screws 14; are the inner plates 15 having a central opening 16, substantially the same size or diameter, as the diameter of the inner circumference of the hub rim 11. In other words, the plates 15 overlie the hub rim, as shown, and are provided with slots 17 having outer enlargements 18, to correspond and register with the slots of the spokes. Extending transversely of the spokes, and through the enlarged part 10 of the slots of the spokes are bolts 19, between the heads 20 and the nuts 21 of which bolts, and the plates 15 are the outermost plates 22 and 23, which constitutes means to cover the slots of the plates 15 and said spokes. The plates 22 and 23 are keyed to the ends of the core sleeve or bore sleeve 24:, as shown at 25, which sleeve receives the spindle of the axle. Surrounding the core sleeve and arranged within the annular hub rim are the pneumatic tubes 26. Extending through where the wedge portions of two of the spokes contact is a tube 27 having branches 28 extending to the pneumatic tubes 26, for inflating the same. The tube 27 is provided with the usual inflating check valve 29, to prevent the escape of air, as the pneumatic tubes are inflated. Engaging the bolts 19 are arched plates 30 having extension sleeves or bosses 31, and surrounding these bosses or sleeves 31 are the outer ends of the coil springs 32, which engage between the arched plates 30 and the plates 12. It will be observed that when the weight of the vehicle .body carried upon the axles causes the core,

the lower parts of the pneumatic tubes 26 will be depressed, and owing to the outermost plate being keyed to the bushing or sleeve 24:, said outermost plates 22 and 23 will pull upon the uppermost bolts 19, thereby depressing the auxiliary spring means 32 in order to insure resiliency for the wheels.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A resilient hub structure for vehicle wheels, a plurality of spokes having inner wedge-shaped end parts fitting against each other, means connecting said parts to insure a rigid structure, said Wedge-shaped parts having radial slots, a hub rim adjacent the inner ends of the wedge-shaped parts, a hub core or sleeve concentric with the hub rim but spaced apart within the same, pneumatic tubes between the hub rim and the hub core or sleeve, outermost plates adjacent said means and being keyed to the core or sleeve, means extending through the outer ends of the-slots and connecting said plates, and resilient spring means between the connecting means of said plates and the hub rim.

2. A resilient hub structure for vehicle wheels, aplurality of spokes having inner wedge-shaped end parts fitting against each other, means connecting said parts to insure a rigid structure, said wedge-shaped parts having radial slots, a hub rim adjacent the inner ends of thewedge-shaped parts, a hub core or sleeve concentric with the hub rim but spaced apart within the same, pneumatic tubes between the hub rim and the hub core or sleeve, outermost plates adjacent said means and being keyed to the core or sleeve, means extending through the outer ends of the slots and connecting said plates, and resilient spring means between the connecting means of said plates and the hub rim, elements carried by the hub rim and extending into the inner ends of the slots of the spokes to prevent creeping of the hub rim, said connecting means of the outermost plates comprising bolts, said resilient spring means consisting of coil springs having their inner ends connecting said elements, arched plates engaging said bolts, and with which arched plates the outer ends of the coil springs engage, said arched plates having extension sleeves telescoping said coil springs.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MIKE B. FLAHERTY.

W'itnesses J. C. MILLEN, WV. P. SrRoUsE.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D, G. I 

